“The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.” Psalm 18:2 KJV
With Love,
Cindy
This Is My Journey Unscripted.
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I’m a To-Do List, planner, scheduled-day kind of person. I didn’t realize how much until recently.
It was early in the morning, about 6:00, when I let my dog, Bella, out the back door. Sunny skies, a gentle breeze, and the sweet sound of birds singing greeted me. I sat down on my little black bench to enjoy it for a minute.
I already had coffee in hand, so I drank it outside instead of hurrying into my office. Suddenly, a hummingbird darted past and paused to drink from the bright pink Hibiscus bloom peaking out from my neighbor’s balcony.
A baby bunny hopped out of the cornfield and looked around. A striking red cardinal flew to my bird feeder and looked me right in the eye. “Are you going to put any seed in this feeder or what?” he seemed to say.
A bright yellow Monarch fluttered by. It was like God had orchestrated his creation to entertain me. I couldn’t leave my seat.
After a while, this Scripture came to me, “Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)
I sat peacefully, obediently, enjoying the beauty right outside my door. My brain stopped buzzing around like it was on fire.
Then, God reminded me that His plan is never what a person thinks it will be. Abraham didn’t know that Sarah would give him a son in her old age. Jacob didn’t know he would have to work twenty years for Laban before he could leave with Rachel. And Joseph could never imagined that God’s plan would land him in prison. But all these things were part of God’s plan!
If these men of God were like me, they would have been thinking that it was all their fault that things were working out so badly. But God’s will was being accomplished through ordinary, imperfect men – in spite of their flaws.
I learned something important that day. Sometimes I just need to slow down, quiet my brain, and observe God’s creation. It reminds me that He is God. And I might hear that still, small voice.
“And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; 12 and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.” 1 Kings 19:11-12
With Love,
Cindy
This Is My Journey Unscripted.
(Re-posted from July, 2018)
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“If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.” Psalm 139:9-10
With Love,
Cindy
This Is My Journey Unscripted.
Do you want to become a Christian? Click this link to learn more: Who Is Jesus?
realchristianwomen.blog
“It is the glory of God to conceal a matter;
to search out a matter is the glory of kings.” Proverbs 25:2 NIV
With Love,
Cindy
This Is My Journey Unscripted.
Do you want to become a Christian? Click this link to learn more: Who Is Jesus?
realchristianwomen.blog
“A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” Luke 6:45 NIV
With Love,
Cindy
This Is My Journey Unscripted.
Do you want to become a Christian? Click this link to learn more: Who Is Jesus?
realchristianwomen.blog
Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash
“Even though the fig trees have no blossoms,
and there are no grapes on the vines;
even though the olive crop fails,
and the fields lie empty and barren;
even though the flocks die in the fields,
and the cattle barns are empty,
18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord!
I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!
19 The Sovereign Lord is my strength!
He makes me as surefooted as a deer,
able to tread upon the heights.” Habakkuk 3:17-19
With Love,
Cindy
This Is My Journey Unscripted.
Do you want to become a Christian? Click this link to learn more: Who Is Jesus?
realchristianwomen.blog
Photo by Aman Bhangu on Unsplash
Someone close to me recently told me she was selling everything she owns and moving to a 3rd World country to help orphaned and abandoned children. I was shocked and speechless. I could hear my heart pounding in my chest. (Your moving where?)
“Do not withhold good from those who deserve it when it’s in your power to help them.” Proverbs 3:27 NLT
She explained that God had called her and had confirmed it over and over. What could I say? I didn’t want to encourage her. What if it wasn’t God? But I didn’t want to discourage her either. What if it was? I could only listen quietly.
“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” James 1:27 NIV
Does God really call us to sell all and follow Him? That’s okay for “missionaries”, but when it’s someone you love, well, that’s different. I didn’t realize how different until it confronted me head-on. I doubt you will be able to understand the impact of my experience unless you experience it for yourself.
“Oh, the joys of those who are kind to the poor!
The Lord rescues them when they are in trouble.” Psalm 41:1 NLT
My faith is being tested to the core. As long as I focus on God’s Word, I’m not in a panic. But to stay strong, I have had to continually stay focused on the Lord and stay in the Word. By immersing myself in the Word over the last few weeks, I have gone from “numb and shock” to peace. It has been an amazing process.
“Oh, the joys of those who are kind to the poor!
The Lord rescues them when they are in trouble.” Psalm 41:1 NLT
How easily we can be swept up in our personal lives and never give thought to the plight of so many living in poverty and despair. For the most part, many American Christians live in a bubble. They don’t even observe the poor in their own town or city that may be only a few miles away.
“But if someone who is supposed to be a Christian has money enough to live well, and sees a brother in need, and won’t help him—how can God’s love be within him?” 1 John 3:17 TLB
You won’t see them at Dillards or Chicos. You won’t see them in a nice restaurant or your favorite nail salon. You won’t even see them in your neighborhood. They may be hidden away, but they aren’t far away.
“Whoever gives to the poor will lack nothing, but those who close their eyes to poverty will be cursed.” Proverbs 28:27
Dear Heavenly Father, Soften our hearts. Create in us compassion and kindness. Forgive us for being selfish. Show us your will and lead us. Strengthen our faith in you. Guide and direct our way every single day. For you are our God, the Holy One, worthy to be praised. Amen
With Love,
Cindy
This Is My Journey Unscripted.
Do you want to become a Christian? Click this link to learn more: Who Is Jesus?
realchristianwomen.blog
Photos by Unsplash
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13: 34–35 NIV
With Love,
Cindy
This Is My Journey Unscripted.
Do you want to become a Christian? Click this link to learn more: Who Is Jesus?
realchristianwomen.blog
“Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18 NLT
With Love,
Cindy
This Is My Journey Unscripted.
Do you want to become a Christian? Click this link to learn more: Who Is Jesus?
realchristianwomen.blog
Photo by Eye for Ebony on Unsplash
I proclaim that I trust God. I urge others to trust Him, too. But what if God asks me to do something I don’t want to do, something really difficult? Is God testing my faith? Will I pass the test?
Charles Stanley said, “The only way to know how much faith you have is to have it tested.”
But suddenly, doubt shows its ugly head and you think, “Is this really God’s will? I need an angelic visit to know for sure.”
But will God send an angel? Probably not. So can we trust the witness of the Holy Spirit within us?
Jesus said,
“ … I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth … you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.” John 14:15-17
Questions of doubt will wreak havoc in your mind if you let them. Instead, we must depend on the Holy Spirit and the Word of God to strengthen our spirit.
The key word in faith is focus.
Dr. Charles Stanley
Where is our focus? Are we focused on God? Or, are we focused on what brings more doubt? When the disciples were in the storm, what was their focus? Was it on Jesus or was it on circumstances? Jesus had just healed all the sick when they set out in a boat. When a storm arose, the disciples woke Jesus and said, “Lord save us! We’re going to drown!”
Jesus replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then He rebuked the wind and the waves and it was completely calm.” (Matthew 8:24-26)
They had been focused on the winds and waves, not on Jesus who was right there with them.
Abraham may have had similar doubts when God told him to sacrifice Isaac on the altar. But,
“(Abraham) said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.” Genesis 22:5 NIV
Abraham believed that God would provide the sacrifice and He and Issac would both return. And they did.
Is your faith being tested? Is God asking you to trust Him? Will you trust Him to guide you? To protect you? Do you have faith in His faithfulness?
“And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had made the promise.” Hebrews 11:11 NIV
“Your faithfulness extends to every generation,
as enduring as the earth you created.” Psalm 119:90 NLT
“In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.” Proverbs 16:9 NIV
“A man’s mind plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps and makes them sure.” Proverbs 16:9 AMPC
“He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.” Psalm 23:3 NIV
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you. Psalm 32:8 NIV
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
do not depend on your own understanding.
Seek his will in all you do,
and he will show you which path to take.” Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT
He promises to guide us. Will we believe that promise even when it’s difficult? Jesus said,
” … when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” Luke 18:8 NIV
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Hebrews 11:6 NIV
“The LORD will work out his plans for my life— for your faithful love, O LORD, endures forever. Don’t abandon me, for you made me.” Psalm 138:8 NLT
“God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’ So we say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.‘” Hebrews 13:5-6 NIV
“By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid …” Hebrews 11:23 NIV
“By faith (Moses) left Egypt, not fearing the King’s anger …” Hebrews 11:27 NIV
“For the Holy Spirit, God’s gift, does not want you to be afraid of people, but to be wise and strong, and to love them and enjoy being with them.” 2 Timothy 1:7 TLB
My Prayer Your love, O God, Will hold us near. It shields us from our darkest fears. In times of darkness Where I can't see, Your loving eye Will watch for me. When I can't see What lies ahead, I'll trust you, Lord, And what You've said. Your promises Are my delight. They guide my way. They are my light. With my whole heart I trust in you. Your loving hands Will see us through. Your faithful love Forever watches Your precious child In all Earth's places.
With Love,
Cindy
This Is My Journey Unscripted.
Do you want to become a Christian? Click this link to learn more: Who Is Jesus?
realchristianwomen.blog
1st Photo by Alex Radelich on Unsplash
Real Christian Women 